This is the FINAL show of season 4!

Today on the show, we’re joined by Helen Maunder's who was on Episode 1 of season 4. Helen had hit rock bottom 12 months ago but she is a fighter and I asked her to return to complete season 4 as she has been on a journey in the past 12 months. Please listen to understand her struggles and successes in this RAW and emotional episode.

Helen Maunders is the founder of Grafeso⁠, an architects' practice based in Barnet, London. Helen has been in business as a sole practice owner for 14 years and has ADHD. She is a cancer survivor and has struggled with her mental health and yet, she is still fighting. This episode is emotionally charged and Helen is very open and honest about what it is like to be an architect. We cover planning and frustrations and how to stop doing doing work for FREE!

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit, the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at [email protected].

Today on the show, we’re joined by someone who’s been breaking boundaries since he was a teenager. At just 16, he was named the UK Young Innovator of the Year and he hasn’t slowed down since.

Peter Markos is the founder of Markos Design Workshop, a RIBA Chartered Architecture Practice known for turning eco-conscious homes and luxury holiday lets into high-performing assets. His team blends architectural ambition with real-world financial returns, whether that’s bespoke rental cabins, planning-led uplift, or full architectural delivery.

But Peter isn’t just a designer. He’s a developer, too. He runs a thriving serviced-accommodation business built around high-yield, design-led holiday homes. That dual perspective means every project is grounded, commercially sharp, and investor-ready. As Peter likes to say: “We design what we ourselves invest in.”

Before turning 30, he’s already worked on standout projects, secured two Innovate UK grants, earned $100,000 of Airbnb backing to develop a flagship holiday unit, and raised angel investment to scale his property portfolio.

And here’s something you don’t hear every day, since the age of 13, he’s consistently outperformed the global stock market. Managing money, his own and his clients’, is simply part of his DNA.

Peter believes architecture should do more than look good. It should perform, financially, socially, and environmentally. And he’s only just getting started.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at [email protected].

My guest is recording this podcast episode with me from the Frank Lloyd Wright Affleck House, owned and operated by the Lawrence Technological University in Michigan.

Dory Azar is a Canadian Architect who is licensed and ran his own architectural practice for over 14 years before he closed his practice and became a brand ambassador. 

Dory is Part architectural consultant, part brand ambassador and drives awareness and adoption of SpecLink through public speaking, social media engagement, and strategic client outreach. He also hosts and curates bi-weekly webinar, SpecTalk, while providing marketing and industry support across multiple internal teams.

In this episode, we talk about leaving architecture, how social media has opened the door for a career change and why he has been living in a Frank Lloyd Wright House and so much more.

My guest is recording this podcast episode with me from the Frank Lloyd Wright Affleck House, owned and operated by the Lawrence Technological University in Michigan.

Dory Azar is a Canadian Architect who is licensed and ran his own architectural practice for over 14 years before he closed his practice and became a brand ambassador.

Dory is Part architectural consultant, part brand ambassador and drives awareness and adoption of SpecLink through public speaking, social media engagement, and strategic client outreach. He also hosts and curates bi-weekly webinar, SpecTalk, while providing marketing and industry support across multiple internal teams.

In this episode, we talk about leaving architecture, how social media has opened the door for a career change and why he has been living in a Frank Lloyd Wright House and so much more.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at [email protected].

Welcome back to The Broke Architect Podcast, where I gather together the best bits from the lives of sole practitioners in architecture in the UK. We shine a light on the challenges and the uncomfortable realities of being an architect today.

We are joined by Helen Maunders, John Kellett, ⁠Niall Hedderman⁠, Catherine Hunt and Dale Whitfield

• Why Stress is a silent Killer of architects

• How to start on Social Media

• We have too many architects and stagnating salaries.

• New business services architects can offer

• Asperger's and Architects

• I can't get PII for larger projects!

• Why we don't employ Part 1 students.

If you’re an architect tired of low pay, undervaluation, and outdated business models, this episode is for you.

👉 Listen now, share with a colleague, and join the conversation about building a profession that values its people as much as its projects.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at [email protected].

Welcome back to The Broke Architect Podcast, where I continue my theme of the life of sole practitioners in architecture. We shine a light on the challenges and the uncomfortable realities of being an architect today.

This week I’m joined by Niall Hedderman, architect and founder of Real Life Architecture. Niall has built a reputation for speaking openly about the issues too many in our profession prefer to ignore: low fees, low salaries, and a system that too often undervalues architects and the work we do.

With years of hands-on experience running his own practice, Niall brings sharp insight into the economics of architecture and why so many of us continue to struggle financially. Together, we dig into some big questions:

• Why so many architects earn more working for themselves than as salaried employees.

• How fragmentation of the profession, too many small practices, not enough scale, affects innovation and career growth.

• Whether the surge in architecture graduates has really pushed fees down.

• The impact of the public sector’s retreat from housing on fees and incomes.

• How greater transparency around fees could transform the profession.

• Why business training needs to be part of architectural education from day one.

• The ultimate question: why does a profession that demands so much education, responsibility, and skill still struggle with low salaries and fees — and what can we do to change that narrative?

  
  

Niall Hedderman is the founder of Real Life Architecture, a practice that doesn’t shy away from asking the tough questions about what it really means to be an architect today. Through his work and outspoken online presence, Niall has become a voice for change in a profession that urgently needs new ideas about value, business, and survival.

If you’re an architect tired of low pay, undervaluation, and outdated business models, this episode is for you.

👉 Listen now, share with a colleague, and join the conversation about building a profession that values its people as much as its projects.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at [email protected].

🎙 Episode 15 – Top Tips for Beating the Competition (with Stephen Drew)
Welcome to Episode 15 of The Broke Architect!

As we take a short summer break, we’re bringing you something special, a throwback to our Clubhouse days with none other than Stephen Drew, architectural recruiter and founder of the Architecture Social.

In this value-packed episode, we cover everything you need to beat the competition in today’s architecture job market, including:

✅ Crafting a standout CV
✅ Navigating job search platforms effectively
✅ Writing winning applications
✅ Building a powerful portfolio
✅ Acing interviews with confidence

Whether you're a recent graduate or a seasoned professional looking for a new opportunity, this episode is full of practical, no-nonsense advice to help you get ahead.

💬 Don’t forget to leave a review wherever you listen, it really helps support the show!

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at [email protected].

Are My Architects’ Fees Too Low?

I continue my focus on small practices in the UK….

This week, I sit down with Dale Whitfield, founder of Fields of Architecture for a candid, practical and empowering conversation on one of the biggest challenges architects face — FEES 💸

In This Episode:

- Why so many architects undervalue themselves

- The danger of “race to the bottom” pricing

- Practical steps to recalibrate your fees

- What happens when you charge what you’re really worth

Dale brings honesty, experience and a fresh perspective to the table, this episode is essential listening for any architect trying to run a sustainable practice without selling themselves short.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at [email protected].

In Part 2 of this two-part series, you will hear from thought-provoking ⁠John Kellett ⁠⁠, an ARB-registered, RIBA Chartered Architect, and founder of ⁠KR.eativ: Architects Ltd⁠. Based in Northamptonshire, John has built his career designing sustainable, functional, and beautiful spaces across healthcare, heritage, residential, and hospitality sectors.

His work combines modern construction methods with advanced BIM tools, underpinned by a passion for solving complex design challenges.

John continues to discuss how he is often without work and yet is ready and willing to design any building type and has the skills and computing power to deliver projects such as hospitals, but he can't get the insurance cover to do this! We discuss many topics which currently have a real impact on the profession.

From his childhood fascination with buildings to his insights on the failures of design-and-build contracts, building safety legislation, and the undervaluing of architects, this conversation pulls no punches.

In This Episode:

✅ The current education system ✅ Where Grenfell went wrong ✅ The role of Principal Designer and who is best to do this role ✅ How the media misrepresents architects in the press as murderers in the UK ✅ Protection of Title and Function ✅ Are Non architects' mistakes driving up PII? ✅ Big City architects stealing the work of provincial architects

Key Quote:🗨️ "I will never retire, I'm a fu*cking architect, it's who I am"

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at [email protected].

In Part 1 of this two-part series you will hear from thought-provoking John Kellett ⁠, an ARB-registered, RIBA Chartered Architect, and founder of KR.eativ: Architects Ltd. Based in Northamptonshire, John has built his career designing sustainable, functional, and beautiful spaces across healthcare, heritage, residential, and hospitality sectors.

His work combines modern construction methods with advanced BIM tools, underpinned by a passion for solving complex design challenges.

John opens up about his journey through architecture, his neurodivergent perspective, and his bold views on how the profession and the regulation around it must evolve to meet today’s challenges.

From his childhood fascination with buildings to his insights on the failures of design-and-build contracts, building safety legislation, and the undervaluing of architects, this conversation pulls no punches.

In This Episode:

✅ John's early influences: how childhood trips to Portmeirion sparked his architectural eye
✅ The difference between Autism and Asperger’s in the workplace and how neurodiversity can strengthen architecture
✅ The case for 'slow architecture' and how attention to detail is being sidelined in today’s property world
✅ How an unconventional school project tracking Soviet satellites helped John gain entry to Bath University
✅ Why architectural education still suffers from stylistic and software biases
✅ The hidden dangers of novated design-and-build contracts
✅ A scathing critique of councils outsourcing architecture—and how it leads to poor public buildings

Key Quote:
🗨️ "Style is just fashion. Architecture needs objective beauty, proportion, space, and light."

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at [email protected].